Fine Handmade Boots & Saddles

The M.L. Leddy Tradition

The finest hand made boots, saddles and leather goods that can be found have been made by one Texas family for almost a century. And for just as long, people who pass through M. L. Leddy’s doors have been considered part of an extended family with a shared tradition of service and excellence. Now the stories of the products and the people that have kept Texas—and the world—moving in great Western style are collected and paired with historic images from the family’s archive and original art photography.

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About the Author

Martha and Wilson Franklin continue to run the legendary Western goods company founded by his grandfather M.L. Leddy in San Angelo, Texas, in 1922. Known particularly for the multi-stepped creation of hand made boots and saddles that are cherished by ranchers and royalty, celebrities and collectors, M.L. Leddy’s store in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square has become a destination; the bright neon boot in front, an icon.

John DeMers is a well-known food writer and cultural critic. He has written 50 books, as well as several plays and two Texas-set musicals. His “Delicious Mischief” radio show runs weekly in Houston, Austin and Dallas, and he writes for several online and print magazines. He lives in Houston, Austin and Marfa.

A third generation professional photographer, Mike Marvins has traveled Big Bend with a backpack, by car and on horseback for over twenty years. He has a long affiliation with Fotofest, Houston Center for Photography and The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. Limited edition portfolios of his Big Bend photography have been acquired by major museums in Texas. He lives in Houston, Texas.